Detoxing and Boosting Your Energy Levels in the New Year

Angela Loftus

Angela Loftus is a registered Nutritional Therapist and focuses on the links between good nutrition, lifestyle factors and overall wellbeing. Read her tips on how to detox and boost flagging energy levels in the New Year.

The festive season can be a fun yet exhausting time. The combination of late nights, overindulging in food and alcohol can really knock your health and energy levels right off course. It’s important to be aware of what we can do to boost your energy levels by ensuring optimal detoxification and this January is a great time to start!

Keeping detoxification at the forefront of your mind will help you be ready for everything that 2016 brings.

Signs of compromised detoxification include:

flagging energy levels

mood swings and irritability

brain fog

digestive and/or skin complaints

Optimising your health by choosing detoxifying foods and making healthy lifestyle choices may be just what you need after the indulgent festive season! Read more →

Health Impacts of Too Much Sugar

You‘ve probably seen headlines and articles saying that sugar is a cause of the rise in cardiovascular diseases and obesity levels in the UK, but what exactly about this innocent looking substance is so harmful to our health? And what health conditions is it actually linked to?

What Is Sugar?

Sugar is made up of glucose and fructose. Fructose is broken down in the liver, whereas glucose is digested in the stomach and requires insulin to metabolise it properly.

Naturally occurring sugar is found in all fruits, vegetables and dairy foods, but in relatively low quantities. In these foods it is accompanied by vitamins, antioxidants, water and fibre, all of which have health benefits. Processed sugar doesn’t have any of these added nutrients, proteins or fats, and is just pure energy, which is why you get an initial boost but then a come-down shortly after eating sugary foods. Read more →

Food Intolerance vs AllergyA food intolerance is a digestive imbalance whereby the gut flora (the friendly bacteria that reside in the intestines) have been compromised. An intolerance can cause mild discomfort and take a while to manifest, appearing hours or days later.

An allergy is a powerful and fairly immediate immune response to an allergen. The allergen is usually harmless, it is the immune response that causes damage to the body.

Food intolerances (acquired immune reactions) and food allergies (generic immune reactions) are common sources of inflammation that spread from the gut to the rest of the body. The detox systems become overwhelmed when the small intestine has a reaction to the absorbed food. Symptoms can range from mild such as a running nose and itchy eyes to anaphylaxis which can be fatal.

Organic produce used to be available only in select health food shops filled with strange and unpronounceable products. Nowadays though, it’s much more mainstream, thanks to people wanting to maintain a healthy diet. Many organic farm shops have sprung up thanks to government grants, and supermarkets now stock multiple organic brands.

There is much debate between scientists and health experts about the benefits of organic produce, if it’s kinder to the environment and whether it is worth the higher prices. Here, we look at the evidence.

What Makes Organic Food So Special?

‘Organic’ is the label given to food created using certain farming and production methods. Crops are grown without the use of conventional pesticides, with an emphasis on caring for the land – crop rotation is used to make the most of natural fertilisers and ensure soil quality is maintained.1 Organic animals are reared on organic feed without growth hormones or antibiotics, usually with access to outdoor land for grazing.2

The overall aim of organic farming is to encourage soil and water conservation whilst reducing the environmental impact of pollution.3Read more →

Managing health conditions such as diabetes and epilepsy is difficult at the best of times, but for people with restricted mobility it can present even more of a challenge. Using a wheelchair, hoist or stair lift means a fit can have dramatic effects on you and people around you.

Speak to your GP or health specialist to put together a care plan, including information about the best way for carers or other people to help you if you have a seizure. In this article, we outline some general first aid tips.

Wheelchairs

If someone you know has a seizure in a wheelchair, the most important thing to remember is to NOT restrict or restrain their movements. This can lead to an injury such as torn muscles, or in severe cases, broken bones.

Put the wheelchair’s brakes on to stop them moving, and if they’re buckled into a seatbelt or waist harness, leave it fastened. Other straps such as for arms, chest or legs should left undone to give them free movement. Read more →

If you have an existing medical condition it should not be a barrier to travel. With some careful planning and preparation you can enjoy a safe and happy trip.

Vaccinations

Make sure you consult your GP or Travel Clinic, ideally at least 6 weeks before travel, to get any necessary vaccinations, malaria tablets (if required) and travel health advice.

Medication

Ensure you have enough stock of your regular medication to last your whole trip and make sure you carry this in your hand luggage. Medication should be carried in its original packaging and you should take a copy of your prescription, or a letter from your doctor, in your hand luggage. Some drugs are banned in certain countries so you should check with the countries embassy website to find out which drugs are banned. Read more →